Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-04-03
FRANCIS LABADIE.

~
While in conversation yesterday with
Mr.. Harry Coats, the genial and hustling
representative of the "Nobody's Child
Company" n reporter of the REGISTER
obtained some very interesting notes con-
corning the peoples favorite actor, Mr..
Francis Labadie, who will present mo
bOdy's Child" at the Grand Opera House,
in this city, commencing tomorrow even
ing, April 4th, for one week, under the
personal management of Byron w. Orr,
who 40 successfully managed SILVER
Spur" during the season OF its initial per-
Torrance at the Grand. Francis Labadie,
the popular and rising young actor, was
born in Silver Creek county, Michigan,
some twenty-seven years ago. He is of
medium height, we'll built, and possesses
much grace of freedom i'll action. His well
lined features, erect figure, black hair and
glistening white teeth shows marked traces
Of his Indian ancestry. Some two hundred
years ago the L.abadies came from France,
and settled in Lower Canada. The great
grandfather of Mr.. Francis Labadie mar
ried the daughter of n Chief of the
POtowatonis tribe of Indians. She is
described as having been very beautiful,
and, if II may judge by the handsome,
manly features of the young actor, report
has certainly been correct. Over one hun
dred years the Labadies have lived on the
banks of the Detroit river, and the father
of the subject.of our sketch was an Indian
agent, and Interpreter for the States Of
Michigan and Indiana for the POt0wat0nics.
His little son, Francis, was a great favorite
with the old chief of the POt0watonies
tribe, and named him Wa-she-ka, Inter
preted means mud turtle'), appointed
him his successor as chief of the tribe. Mr.
Labadic ia proud of his American ances-
Try, but it is needless to say that he ex-
poets the position only as an honorary one.
He has without doubt the oldest and most
complete records of the tribes that used to
be located on the Detroit river, which are
now in his possession. Mr.. Labadie owns
the original deeds of some of the lands
along the river front for several miles
above IOrnaker. Three OF them are signed
by Pontiac, q noted Indian Chief. One is
an agreement given BY Pontiac to General
David Abbott, Of the English army, then
located at Fort Detroit, in May, 1866,
and a further conveyance by Abbott TO Mr..
Labadie's grandfather, June 10th, 1863.
There is also a document OF the four Chiefs
of the C~hippawas, May 9TH, 1881, to F.
Labadie's children, consisting of q tract of
land located at the mouth OF the Thames
river, containing the rude signatures of
these Chiefs, and also n deed OF land OPP
positc Peche Bland, given by the Chief of
the Ottawas in 1773, registered by f. Will
Hams, May 9TH, 1871. The old windmill on
the Detroit Derscela, illustrated i'll Pic
turesque America, has quite a history con-
nected with the Labadies, but space will
not permit US to relate it at this writing.
Mr.. Francis Lahadie began his profes-
siOnal career in 1877, at the age of 10, and
since that time has played in all the prin-
cipal cities between New York and San
Francisco, and during that time has prob
ably played in over 200 parts. For some
time he was a member of several stock
companies in San Francisco and other
cities. In 1884 Mr.. l.. produced master
and Man" appearing in the star role, at
the Standard Theatre, and in January,
1876, desperate Straits, - at the Lyceum.
The past two years he has been starring in
'NObody's Child, and has won for him
self n worldwide reputation in his original
character as Joe, the Wait"